Wrench



June 26, 1923.

L, E. WEGNER WRENCH Filed Aug. 5, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 26, 1923.

L. E. WEGNER WRENCH Filed Aug. 5. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 71% 9 ////////////,i 3&9 Q 5 June 26, 1923. 1.4%,294

L. E. WEGNER WRENCH Filed Aug 5 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 26, 1923.

- stares 1,460,294 PATENT orFicE.

LEWIS E. WEGNER, OF HAGEBSTOWN, I'IIARYLAND.

WRENCH.

Application filed August 5, 1921.

My invention relates to improvements in.

wrenches of the type forming the subjectmatter of my former U. S. Patent No. 1,277,162, of August 27, 1918, and one object of my invention is to provide an auxiliary locking means for holding the sliding jaw in any position to which it has been adjusted prior to the final locking of the said jaw by means of the operating handle,

A further object is to provide means for retaining the said operating handle in a plu- .rality of locking positions.

A still further object is to provide means forattaching to the jaws of said wrench various auxiliary jaws adapted to peculiar kinds of work.

These ob ects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the attached drawings, in

which:

Figure 1, is a section of the essential portions of the wrench showing the sliding aw in an unlocked and adjustable position;

Fig. 2, is a view of the wrenchadjusted to a desired position and locked therein by means of the auxiliary locking means prior to the closing in of the operating handler Fig. is a section of the wrench showing the operating handle held firmly in the final locking position;

Fig. 4, is a section of the wrench showing the operating handle held in one of the in termediate locking positions;

Fig. 5. is a section illustrating a modified form of locking device;

Fig. v6, is a side elevation oi the upper portion of the wrench showing one form of auxiliary jaw attachments;

Fig. 7. is aview in section of the cutter carrying; jaw attachment;

Fig. 8. is a view in perspective of the fixed jaw attachment used in con cutter attachment; a

Fig. 9, is .a view in perspective of the cutter shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10, is a view in perspective oi a set of improved jaw attachments;

unction with the Fig. 11, is a view in perspective of the wire cutting jaw attachments:

Fig. 12, a front elevation of the outer portion of: the operating handle;

Serial No. 490,113.

F ig. 13, is a view in perspective of the auxiliary handle attachment for the wrench;

Fig. 14, is a view in side elevation illustrating the vise attachment and the jaw attachments, employed therewith;

Fig. 15, is a vertical section on the line 15-15, Fig. 14:;

Fig. 16, is a view of the outer end of the body of the wrench, and

Fig. 17, is a section on the line 1717, Fig. 6.

lVith reference to the drawings, 1 represents the body or shank of the wrench, at

the upper end of which is the projecting portion 2 constituting the fixed jaw. Upon the body 1 is mounted asliding or adjustable jaw 3, which has an opening for the reception of said body, and includes a downwardly projecting arm 4, which at its end is perforated for the passage of a pivot pin or rivet 5, by means of which the jaw is at tached to al stirrup 6 and the arms 8 of an operating handle 7. Between the arms 8 of the operating handle at a point abo e the pivot pin 5 is pivotally mounted upon trun nions 9, 9, a and 10, having a series of teeth 11 adaptedto engage'the teeth 12 of a rack formed on the adjacent side of the body 1. This pawl is so mounted in the handlethat when the latter is in the posi: tion shown in Fig. 1., the pawl is separated from and completely clears the rack por tion of the body. When, however, the handle is swung inwardly toward the body, the said pawl is brought into engagement with the rack upon the body, as shown in F in. 3.

Mounted upon a pin 13 extending between the arms of the operating handle at apoint below the pivot pin5 is a pinion 14, the

arrangement being such that normally the said pinion which is adapted to co-operate with the rack upon the body of the wrench comes into engagement with the latter when the handle has been moved to swing the pawl clear of the teeth 12.

Within the handle and extending longitudinallv thereof is a spring 15, one end of which is ri eted or otherwise suitably fixed to the handle, while the opposite end 16 engages the rear or untoothed face of the body 1 so as to exert a pressure upon the said body tending to shift the handle toward its open or spread position.

Inflthe present instance, the pivot pin 13 upon which the pinion is carried, is mount ed in oppositely disposed slots 17 formed in the arms 8 of the handle, said pin being capable of moving over the entire length of said slots, and the slots have along one side thereof a series of notches 18 into and in which the outer ends of the said pivot pin are adapted to pass and be retained.

Secured to the outer ends of the pivot pin 13 is a stirrup member 19 having at the inner end thereof a projecting tooth 20 which is adapted'to engage an outwardly extending projection or tooth 21 upon the stirrup member 6. I

lVhen the movable jaw is to be adjusted to a desired position, the parts should be substantially in the position shown in Fig. 1. After the movable jaw has been shifted, the stirrup 19 is turnedupwardly against the outer face of the stirrup 6, as clearly illustrated in Fig 2, this movement of the stirrup having the eifect of forcing the pawl 10 inwardly to the extent of bringing the'teeth thereof into engagement with the teeth 12 of the rack upon the body, and also carrying the operating handle inward-' ly toward the body of the wrenchso that it may be grasped more easily by the hand already holding the body. In this manner, the movable jaw of the wrench is locked against further movement upon the body, and the'operating handle may then be grasped and carried inwardly in the usual manner, with no danger that the position of the movable jaw will be shifted or lost in the operation.

As the operating handle is carried inwardly against the body, the effect is to carry the movable jaw further toward the fixed jaw of the wrench whereby a still firmer grip is obtained upon the work, this action being due to the fact that after the pawl 10 has engaged the rack upon the body, the handle swings upon the pin 9 as a pivot. After the-operating handle has been moved inwardly to the point where further movement is impossible, the stirrup 19 may be turned downwardly and the pinion moved inwardly in the slots until it engages the rack upon the body. In this position, the pivot pin 13 will occupy one or other of the notches 18 in the outer edge of the slots, whereby the pinion is prevented from movmg outwardly in the slots under the action .of the spring 15 at the back of the operating handle. The fact that the pinionis retained n this position by the notch prevents the operating handle from returning to the normal extended position as it would normally do under the tension of the spring 15. In Fig. 3, the operating handle is shown .in the position closest to the body, the pinion pivot 13 in this instance occupying the notch at the extreme inner ends of the slots, and the operating handle being locked in this position in the manner described.

In Fig. 4, I have shown the operating handle locked in one of the intermediate positions, the pinion pivot pin in this case occupying the center notch in the slots.

WVhen it is desired to release the wrench, it is merely necessary to press upwardly against the bottom of the stirrup 19 so as to free the pivot pin 13 from the notch which it occupies, and to move the said pivot pin and the pinion outwardly through the slots to the outer ends thereof, in which position it is shown in Fig. 1, the consequent movement outwardly of the operating handle carrying the pawl 10 clear of the ratchet, as previousl described.

By means of the interengaging teeth 21 and 20 upon the stirrup 5 and the pinion stirrup 19, the movement of the pinion inwardly through the slots is assisted, the

movement merely requiring a pressure against the bottom of the stirrup to carry the pinion inwardly.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modified form of locking device which way be employed either with or without the auxiliary locking means described above, this form of locking means consisting of a spring 22 secured at the back of the'movable jaw and bearing against the back or untoothed side of the body 1. This spring preferably has a roller 23 at the end which bears against the said back to permit easy adjustment of the jaw upon the body. The action of this spring is to carry the lower projection 4c of the movable jaw and the pawl 10 inwardly so that the latter engages the rack 12, thereby locking the movable jaw in any position. This spring look operates continually to lock the said movable jaw whenever the operating handle is released, the locked position, when this spring lock is employed, being the normal one. When it is desired to shift the movable jaw, the handle must be moved. outwardly away from the body. In the present instance I have shown the spring 22 pivotally mounted on the back of said movable aw so that it may be turned either to one side or to a position opposite that shown in the drawing, when it is desired not to use this locking device.

Although the jaws may be used without attachment, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4:, I provide means for attaching auxiliary jaws to the said main jaws. said auxiliary jaws being of the general shape shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and being attached to the main jaws of the wrench by means of pins 2.4. In order to hold the auxiliary jaws tightly to the main jaws of the wrench, I preferably form, as shown in Fig. 17 the holes 25 in the main jaws of the wrench through which said pins 24: pass slightly concave at the side nearest the working surfaces of the jaws and straight at the opposite sides, and in this manner the said auxiliary jaws are drawn up tightly-against the working faces of the main jaws of the type of jaw, 26, 26, only partially bearded,

and the remaining portion of the working surface of the jaws being plane, as clearly illustrated. This COITlblIlZLiZlOnjkLW provides means for grasping a pipe or the like, while the smooth portions ofthe faces may be used as in an ordinary wrench.

In Fig. 11, I have illustrated a preferred form of wire cutting jaws 27, 27, which may be attached in the manner previously described. i

In order to provide the wrench with means for conversion into a pipe cutter or thread chaser, I provide an auxiliary carrier jaw 28 shown in Figsffi and 7, which may be attached to the movable jaw of the wrench in the same manner as the auxiliary jaws previously described, but in this instance the said aw has an extension-29 with an opening through which the body 1 of i the wrench may be inserted. The construction of this auxiliary jaw is shown most clearly in Fig. 7, the said'stirrup having at one side the usual slot 31 for the reception of the main movable jaw of the wrench to which it is attached, and at the other side a slot opening 32 for the reception of acutter, which latter is retained in the said slot by a pin 33 extending therethrough and through apertures in the wallsofthe'said jaw. lVhen an ordinary pipe cutter 34, shown in Fig. 6, is employed, free opportunity is afforded the cutter to rotatein the said jaw, but when the cutter 35 illustrated in Fig. 9 iseinployed, shoulders 36 are provided in the jaw against which the units 37 ot the cutter bear and wherebyturning of the cutter in the carrier jaw is prevented.

The particular cutter 35 illustrated in Fig. 9 has at one side thereof diamondshaped cutting elements 38, 38, for chasing threads. These elements 38 are exactly similar and are so positioned in the stirrup member that one of the elements acts as a guide while the other acts as a cutting element. The rectangular cutting elements 39, 39, on the other threesides oft-his cutter may be used for pipe cutting, and the distance between these elements in each case varies to adapt the cutter to pipes of dif- In conjunction with the cutter ments I eu'iploy an aux liary jaw e0. illustrated in Fig. 8, said jaw being attached to the fixed jaw of the wrench in the usual manner. The working face of the jaw 40 is v -shaped and is thus adapted to receive and retain the pipe or other article being operated. on. The jaw is preferablyslotted at 41, and when the thread chasing tool'is' employed,a 'strlp of wood or leather 42, or

ings. ploying my improved locking means hereiI1-. before descr bed, I prefer toen ploy a ring which may he passed around the body of attachany comparatively soft material, may be insertedin the slot to act as a buffer and to protect the threads. i

' 1 preferably formin the outer end of th operating handle a pair of apertures 43, 4:3, said apertures being large at the top and having slots extending longitudinally inwardly therefrom. These apertures are adapted to receive bolts or pins 44, 44, upon an auxiliary handle attachment 45 shown in Fig. 13. l The handle 945 may be attached to the wrench by inserting the said pins in the holes 43 and pulling the said handle out-l wardly so that the shanks of the pins slide down and occupy the slotted portions of the apertures where they are retained by the heads 46, and in this manner lateral handles are provided for turning the wrench when j the latter is usedas a pipecutter or the like.

In Figs. 1a. and 15, I have illustrated an attachment for converting the wrench into a vise, said attachment consisting of a pair ofjaws, 47, 47,joined at the rear andrnovable with respect to each other, said movable feature being obtainedby means of a slot 48 in the rear of one of said jaws through which the connecting bolt 49 passes, said bolt passing through a simple aperture in the rear of the other jaw. Extending through apertures near the center of the faces of said jaws is a bolt or shankbO,

threaded at one end andhaving at the other end a collar or yoke 51throu'gh which the body of the wrench is adapted to be inserted, as clearly shown in the drawing. The yoke 51 is adapted to slide through. a slotted aperture formed in a block '52 uppon the upper jaw, and a nut 53or thelike is carried upon the threaded portion of the bolt so that after the wrench has been inserted in the collafrand the jaws clamped overthe edge of a'table, or other suitable support, the said jaws may be forced together and the said yoke or collar drawn down upon the body of the wrench simultaneously by tightening clamped. to their support and the wrench clamped to the jaws. In this instance, I

prefer 'to employ auxiliary vise jaws 54: of i the general shape illustrated in the draw- In thisinstance also, instead of em the wrench and the operating handle to hold the latter close to the said body.

In Fig. 16, I have illustrated certain slots formed at the outer end'o'f the'body portion of the wrench, which may be employed for various purposes, such as the turning of small nuts and the like.

1. The combination. in a wrench, ofa shank haying a relatively' fixed "and provided withteeth; a movable jaw slidable on said shank; ahandle pivoted to said movable jaw; a pawl carried by the handle in posi tion to engage the said teeth when the handle ,is moved toward the shank but normally disengaged from the teeth when the handle shank having a relatively fixed jaw and provided with teeth; a movable jaw'slidable on said shank; a handle'; a pivot connecting saidhandle to said movable jaw; a pawl carried by the handle in position to engage the teeth of the, shank when the handle ismoved toward the shank butnormally disengaged tromthe teeth when the handle is extended;

and manually actuated means including a member mounted upon the handle ad acent said pivot "for moving thepawl into engagement'with said teeth. i a i 3. The combination, in a 'wrench, of a toothed shank having a relatively fixed jaw;

a movable jaw slidable on the shank and having a projecting arm; a stirrup extending around the shank; an operating handle; a pivot-connectingthe arm, the stirrup and the handle; a pawl on thehandle in posi tion to engage the teeth of the shank when "saidhandle is operated; and a member pivtotally mounted upon the handle and adapted to engage the said stirrup for moving the pawl into engagement-with the said teeth.

4. Theicombination, in a wrench, ot' a toothed shank having a relatively fixed jaw;

a movable j aw slidable on the shank and havin a ro'ectin arm a stirru) extend-' b i b 7 ing around the shank; an operating handle having branches frictionally engaged by the sides of said stirrup; a pivot connecting the arm. the stirrup and the handle; a pawl on the handle in position to engage the teeth of the shank when said handle is operated; a second stirrup pivotally mounted upon the branches ofthe handle and frictionally engaging said branches, said stirrup being adapted to engage the first'named stirrup to move the said pawl into engagement with said teeth; [and interengaging projections upon the said stirrups.

5. The combination, in a wrench, of a toothed shank having a fixed jaw; a slidable rack on the shank; a handle; a pivot connecting said handle to the slidable jaw; two

toothed members mounted on the handle eccentrically tothe pivot in such positions that normally but one of said members at the teeth of the shank when said handle is advanced toward the shank; a toothed wheel mounted to cooperate with the teeth of the shank, said wheel normally lying out of engagement with said teeth when the pawl lies in engagement therewith; and means for adjusting said wheel to bring it into engagement with the said teeth simultaneously with the pawl and thereby to retain the handle in an advanced position.

7. The combination, in a wrench, of a toothed shank having a relatively fixed jaw; a movable jaw slidable on said shank and having a projecting arm;a stirrup extending around the shank; an operating handle: a pivot connecting the arm, the stirrup and the handle;'a pawl mounted on the handle in position to engage the teeth of the shank when said handle is advanced toward the shank; a toothed-wheel mounted to cooperate with the teeth of the shank to move the slidable jaw and handle thereon, said wheel normally lying out of engagement with the saidteeth whenthe pawl lies in engagement therewith; and means for adjusting said wheel to bring it into engagement with said teeth simultaneously with the pawl and to retain it in said adjusted position whereby the said operating handle is retained in an advanced position.

8. The combination, in a wrench, of a toothed shank having a relatively fixed aw; a movable jaw slidable on the shank and having a projecting arm; a stirrup extending aroundthe shank; an operating handle; a pivot connecting the arm, the stirrup and the handle; a pawl mounted on the handle in position to engage the teeth of the shank when said handle is advanced toward the shank: a toothed wheel also adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the shank for moving the slidable jaw and handle thereon, the toothed pawl being on one side of the pivot and the toothed wheel on the opposite side thereof so that either one or other but not both may normally be in engagement with the teeth. ot the shank at one time; and means for adjusting said wheel to bring it into and retain it in engagement with the said teeth simultaneously with the pawl whereby the handle isretained in an advanced position. i

9. The combination. in a wrench, of a toothed shank having a relatively fixed jaw; a. movable jaw slidable on said shank; a stirrup for the movable jaw; a handle pivotally connected to the movable jaw; a; pawl and a toothed wheel mounted on the handle, said toothed wheel being normally in 0- sition to engage the teeth of the shank when the pawl is disengaged therefrom and vice versa; and means for adjusting the said toothed shank having a relatively fixed 1 aw; a movable jaw slidable on said shanr; a

stirrup for the movable jaw; a handle piv otally connected to the movable jaw; a pawl and a toothed wheel mounted on the handle in such position that when the said handle is advanced toward the shank the pawl is brought into engagement with the teeth of said shank while the wheel is disengaged therefrom and vice versa; and means for adjusting and retaining said wheel to and in a plurality of positions in which it lies in engagement with said teeth simultaneously with said pawl for retaining the said handle in an advanced position. a

11. The combination, in a wrench, of a toothed hank having a. relatively fixed jaw; a movable jaw slidable on said shank; a

stirrup for the movable jaw; a handle piv-,

otally connected to the movable jaw, said handle having slots therein; a pivot pin mounted in said slots; a toothed wheel mounted upon said pivot pin and adapted to engage the teeth of said shank; a pawl mounted upon said handle in position to engage the teeth of said shank when the handle is advanced toward the shank, said pawl and wheel being so positioned that normally but one of them at a time lies in engagement with the teeth of said shank, and said wheel-carrying pivot being adapted to be shifted in said slots so as to bring the wheel into engagement with the teeth. of the shank simultaneously with the pawl; and means for retaining the said wheelin'engagement with said teeth whereby the handle is retained in an advanced position.

12. The combination, in a wrench, of a toothed shank havinga relatively fixed jaw; a movable jaw slidable on said shank; a stirrup for the movable jaw; a handle pivotally connected to the movable jaw, said handle having slots therein; a pivot pin mounted in said slots; a toothed wheel mounted upon said pivot pin and adapted to engage the teeth of said shank; a pawl mounted upon said handle in position to engage the teeth of said shank when the handle is advanced toward the shank, said pawl and wheel being so positioned that normally but one of them at a time lies in engagement with the teeth of said shank; said wheel-carrying pivot being adapted to be shifted in said slots so as to bring the i shank simultaneously with the pawl; and a plurality of notches in the side of said slots for retaining the wheel-carrying pivot in various positions in which the said wheel lies inengagement with said teeth whereby the handle is retained in an advanced position.

13. The combination, in a wrench, of a wheel into engagement with the teeth of the shank having a relatively fixed jaw and provided with teeth; a movable jaw slidable on said shaft; a handle pivoted to the said,

movable jaw; a pawl carried by the handle in position normally disengaged from the teeth of the shank and adapted to engage the latter when the handle is operated; and means independent of said handle for bringing the pawl into engagement with said teeth.

14. The combination, in a wrench, of a shank having a relatively fixed jaw and provided with teeth; a movable jaw slidable on said shank; a handle pivoted to said movable aw; a pawl carriedby the handle in position to co-operate with the teeth of the shank; a cutter-carrying auxiliary jaw adapted to be attached to the movable jaw of said wrench; an auxiliary jaw adapted to be attached to the relatively fixedjaw of the wrench, said latter auxiliary jaw comprising a substantially V-shaped recess, and j a slot extending through said auxiliary jaw for the reception of a buffer element.

15. The combination, in a wrench, of a shank having a relatively fixed jaw and provided with teeth; a movable jaw slidable on the said shank; apertured handle pivoted to said movable jaw; a pawl carried by M the handle in position to co-operate with the teeth of the shank; and a substantially T- shaped auxiliary handle having extensions thereon adapted to occupy the aid apertures in the handle whereby the said auxiliary handle is secure-dto the said wrench handle.

16. In a wrench, the combination with a shank having arelatively fixed jaw, of a movable jaw slidable on the shank, apertures in said jaws, auxiliary jaws having lugs adapted to lie on either side of the main jaws and being correspondingly apertured, and apin adapted to pass through the aperturesand thereby secure the auxiliary jaws to. the main aws, the apertures in said main jaws being restricted at the center so as to draw the auxiliary jaws tightly against, the face 01"? the main jaws, substantially as described.

' LEVVIS E. WEGNER. 

